Equal Education launches court case against Minister for Basic Education, Angie Motshekga
Today at a press conference Equal Education (EE) announced that it had filed papers in the Bhisho High Court against Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga; Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan; and the nine provincial MECs for Education.
As EE Coordinator Doron Isaacs explained: "The papers seek an order compelling Minister Motshekga to prescribe minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure. This is the most far-reaching court case about the right to basic education to have been launched in democratic South Africa."
Yoliswa Dwane, Head of Policy at EE, compiled the 582 page founding affidavit. She outlined the efforts EE has gone to secure infrastructure standards: "EE has been campaigning for minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure for two years. Thousands of people across the country have joined our campaign.
Equalisers, staff in schools, parents at home and communities on the street have petitioned, picketed, fasted, slept outside Parliament and protested repeatedly. However, Minister Motshekga has failed to exercise the powers she has - as set out in section 5A of the South African Schools Act - to prescribe minimum norms and standards.
Because of Minister Motshekga's refusal to prescribe norms and standards South Africa's learners have continued to be taught under unacceptable conditions. EE believes that it has exhausted alternatives in its campaign and it is with great regret that it has had to resort to legal action."